Racially divided American biz: letter

View full sizeAP photoA survivor from a shooting in a Hartford Distributors beer warehouse is comforted in Manchester, Conn.

My heart goes out to all those who were involved in the recent killings that took place in Connecticut and although it was tragic, I hope that it will be an eye-opener throughout all Corporate America.

Now, for all those who are just looking at this young man as being a cruel and devilish villain, we should all look at and take into consideration the entire story mentioned which led to this tragedy. Being a part of Corporate America for over 34 years, I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that racial discrimination still goes on.

Many say, "We are in the 21st century and that kind of stuff doesn't exist today"; however, the ones who think that way are those who aren't affected by it. Now, as I've mentioned at the beginning, my heart goes out to all those involved in the Connecticut killings, and that also includes the young man who murdered himself with eight others. Yes, he too was a victim, a victim of racial discrimination, regardless of who will try to deny its existence and attempt to make this young man out to be just some young 34-year-old monster even though he worked several years on his job for a company that had over 120 employees of which he was one out of only two blacks. He had never been in trouble and had no criminal record.

I am not condoning or excusing what this young man has done, but when tragedies such as this happen, people shouldn't only look at a person's actions and judge them solely on that alone, but also consider the cause that provoked it.

The article on this killing rampage states that this young man reached out to his union but it was to no avail, and I being a part of a union know first-hand that unions today will sell you out. Companies today have harassment policies in place but it seems like the only issue that benefits from them are sexual in nature. However, when it comes down to racial discrimination and harassment, Corporate America likes to shove this matter under the rug by claiming they're a company that's committed to equal employment opportunity and they don't tolerate this kind of behavior.

But the truth of the matter is that racial discrimination and harassment are alive and prevalent in Corporate America. The sad thing about it is that civil rights organizations that once fought so effectively against these acts are weak, passive and useless today because Corporate America has figured out a way to get them to be silent and that's by donating finances to them.

Racial discrimination is a sinful disease that's woven into the fabric of Corporate America, especially within career jobs, so I'm in agreement with the uncle's comment about his nephew that says, "If it was discrimination that drove him to this, then the company needs to be responsible because nine people are dead here."